‘Toff’ rallies Dagupan to create more green spaces
FOURTH District Rep. Christopher ‘Toff’ de Venecia called on the Dagupan City government to develop more green spaces to help combat the impacts of climate change to the widely-concretized urban area.
He said since Dagupan is vulnerable to natural hazards such as flood, storm surge and having a heat index that sometimes exceeds 50°C, deemed as the highest nationwide, the city should complement its concrete infrastructures through reforestation and planting of mangroves.
He cited the case of Bogota City in Columbia, whose heat index was always the highest in that South American country, until the urban community worked together in planting millions of new trees trees that resulted in a significant reduction of temperature by four degrees after three to four years.
He noted that most of the flood mitigation initiatives in Dagupan involve building new infrastructure, and little or none at all on so-called “natural infrastructures.”
“I am curious to see how environment can work hand in hand with infrastructure in solving the floods in Dagupan City,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that the biggest challenge to this proposal is the availability of public land where green spaces can be developed although he noted one area that will soon be open for greening is the old dumpsite in Bonuan, which Mayor Belen Fernandez is determined to close and convert it into a tree park.
De Venecia also appealed to all candidates in the coming May 12 election to adopt environmental solutions in their platform, which is crucial for the country that is considered the most vulnerable to natural hazards.
His mother, Gina de Venecia, who is running for the position that he will vacate, has included education and environment among her top advocacies.
The young De Venecia, who is due to finish his last term for the position, will leave for London to study innovative governance and creative economy. (Leonardo Micua)
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